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Everyone is Welcome to Attend Any and All Events!
Friday:
Actions, Steps, and Stories
Amber Cantorna – 8 p.m.
- Sharing her experiences and wisdom from her book, Unashamed, A Coming-Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians.
- She will have a question and answer section, have copies of her book for sale and will host a book signing after her talk.
Saturday:
A Guide to Compassion
Meet and Greet – Speakers and the Community – 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy food and drink while you get a chance to talk with author Susan Cottrell and Dr. Samuel Fernandez-Carriba on the work that each of them do.
Samuel Fernandez-Carriba, PhD- 7 p.m.
- Clinical Psychologist and Senior Instructor of CBCT® (Cognitively-based Compassion Training), which he teaches to a range of populations under distress across the world.
- Presenting scientific evidence on the benefits of a systematic training in compassion, both a universal human value and a social skill.
- Speaking as a member of the LGBTQ community.
Susan Cottrell – 8 p.m.
- Ted Talk – Why I chose my Daughter over the Evangelical Church
- Best selling author of, Mom, I’m Gay.
- Advice and wisdom on how to best be a compassionate and loving family to those in the LGBT community, no matter your beliefs.
- She will have a question and answer section, have copies of her book for sale and will host a book signing after her talk.
Worship w/ Special Message by Susan Cottrell – Sunday – 11 a.m.
Come as you are for a special Sunday service, featuring music for all ages and a guest message by Susan Cottrell. Come meet the church and people that have been accepting of all people for over 25 years!
To Let us Know You Will Be Joining Us, Please Go To Our Facebook Event Page!
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Amber Cantorna is a national speaker, a columnist for Patheos, and the author of Refocusing My Family: Coming Out, Being Cast Out, and Discovering the True Love of God. As a leader dedicated to supporting LGBTQ people throughout their coming-out process, Cantorna uses her platform to inspire others and works to dissolve shame, foster self-acceptance, and generate a message of love and inclusion for all.
At her core, Amber is passionate about dissolving shame, fostering self acceptance, and generating messages of hope for LGBTQ people. With compassion that comes from experience, Amber strives to help other LGBTQ people reconcile their faith with their sexuality. She also desires to create conversations for change among the families, friends, and loved ones of LGBTQ people in order to guide them towards a place of full acceptance and inclusion.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”25726″ img_size=”medium” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”25784″ img_size=”large” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Samuel Fernandez-Carriba, Ph.D., is Senior Psychologist at the Marcus Autism Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Clinical Psychologist and Senior Instructor of CBCT® (Cognitively-based Compassion Training) at Emory, which he teaches to a range of populations under distress across the world.
He obtained his PhD in Clinical and Health Psychology from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. Two years of his doctoral training took place at the Yerkes National Research Primate Center (Emory), where he approached the study of human emotions through an examination of biological determinants and evolutionary history as observed in the chimpanzee. This gave rise to numerous peer-reviewed articles, presentations at international conferences, and even appearances in international popular media like CNN and the National Geographic magazine.
After his return to Emory, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Emory Autism Center (Emory School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry). At the Marcus Center, he conducts diagnostic evaluations on children and teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related disorders, as well as research on two related topics: (1) the potential of mindfulness and compassion meditation practice as a systematic training to foster resilience and social competence in populations under high stress, including caregivers and providers of individuals with ASD, and (2) sociocultural factors in healthcare and cultural competence in providers; presenting scientific evidence on the benefits of a systematic training in compassion, both a universal human value and a social skill.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Susan Cottrell is a public theologian, acclaimed author, and through her nonprofit organization—FreedHearts—Susan
She and her husband Rob have been married for more than 30 years and have five children, two of whom are in the LGBTQI community.
“Susan has this fierce, loving, don’t mess with me, Mom vibe.”—Rev Ashley Harness, Auburn Seminary
“What impresses me about Susan is that she’s not someone who argues and strongarms people into seeing things her way. She’s someone who listens and cares for others really well. Her presence challenges Christians who reject our friends in the LGBTQ community to understand the love of God.” – Michael Hidalgo, Lead Pastor, Denver Community Church[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”25724″ img_size=”large” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row]